Gaffer Promotes Youth For Evian Trip

Sean Dyche insists he is actively pursuing targets as the Clarets begin to ramp up their pre-season at a training camp in France.

The Clarets boss has promoted four youngsters to the squad for the five-day trip to Evian after granting extra time off for the trio of players who took part in the European Championships.

Skipper Tom Heaton, Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Ward and Welsh striker Sam Vokes will all join up with their team mates in the coming fortnight as Burnley gear up for their second Premier League challenge in three years.

And Dyche, who has young Irish and Spanish goalkeepers Connor Mitchell and Tony Aghayere and Aussie midfielder Aiden O’Neill in the first team camp this week, along with Cameron Dummigan and Tom Anderson, hopes to add to his numbers in the near future.

Aiden O'Neill

The gaffer explained: “Tom and Stephen have been given an extra 10 days and Sam will get some more on top of that.

“It was a big season for us and those lads played a big part and they’ve been away with their own countries, so it’s important they still get that down time.

“There’s a lot of mental stress, as well as physical stress, so it’s important they get time with their families and to refresh.

“We’ve brought a few of the younger players to Evian, so we’ve got 21 outfield players, plus the keepers. It’s good for them to get a feel of what first team life is all about.”

He added: “There are still a few things happening back home with other players, who probably won’t make this trip, but we are looking to add to the group.

“There are always a million questions at this time, but I’ve said it so many times; we are in a very good position as a club.

“We are back in the Premier League with some good finance behind us, but the finance in the Premier League is a whole new level. It’s not just the fees; it’s the ongoing contracts.”

Dyche added: “Our market is still a careful one and we can’t go throwing numbers around. We’ve all seen some clubs are doing that and it is a difficult task, but we still think we’ve got players who can adjust into our squad and sometimes, you have to be patient, including myself.

“I want the players in as early as I can, but other clubs don’t just go “of course, have our players!”

“It doesn’t quite work like that. Often one or two moves start the system rolling, but we are not strong enough to make the wheels turn by throwing around enormous fees.

“We’ve got money; I’ve never denied that. It’s just how we can use that money and to what level.”

In the meantime it’s business as usual for the Clarets, as they settle into an Evian training base only recently vacated by the German national side, who dramatically lost to France in the semi-finals.

Dyche explained: “It’s a beautiful facility and the training ground here is fantastic. It gives you a measure of the place that the German national side have just been here for the European Championship, so we knew the quality and were happy to come here again.

“It all makes for the right balance: A good environment in a beautiful environment and also some really good training facilities for the players.

“It’s hard for folk back home to realise, but Evian is quite a small, private place and there are no distractions for the players, other than good facilities and food and a nice hotel and training base.